A New Method for Dealing with Apiary-Raiding Black Bears

Depredating black bears (Ursus americanus) were trapped and tagged at beeyards in an attempt to create aversion to those beeyards. Of the 9 bears trapped and released, only 1 bear was known to return to a beeyard during the study period. Electric fences were also shown to be effective for protecting beeyards from depredating bears. There was a 70% greater probability of bear damage among unfenced beeyards than among fenced beeyards. A combined, electric fence, trap-and-release program is described.